Learning to get used to external factors! – Laporte leads City confusion over VAR

Aymeric Laporte and several of his Manchester City team-mates have expressed frustration over Gabriel Jesus seeing a late strike against Tottenham disallowed by VAR.

City and Spurs were drawing 2-2 at Etihad Stadium on Saturday when Jesus struck in added time, firing into the bottom-right corner from inside the box.

But celebrations were cut short by VAR with replays showing the ball hit Laporte on the arm during the build-up – and the goal was duly disallowed.

A frustrated Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports “they need to fix” VAR, City having seen video replay decisions go against them in a game with Spurs for the second time this year following April’s Champions League drama, when Raheem Sterling had a goal disallowed for offside.

And Guardiola’s players steadily followed suit on social media following the game, led by Laporte.

“Tough game! Learning to get used to external factors! Keep working!” the centre-back posted on Twitter.

Jesus was visibly upset by the call, despite referee Michael Oliver attempting to calm him down on the field.

“Great game, lads. Well played, but unfortunately we didn’t get the win,” the Brazil striker said. “We scored the goal we needed, but…..”

Great game, lads. Well played, but unfortunately we didn’t get the win. We scored the goal we needed, but….. pic.twitter.com/X0Jzy8hwMc

Kyle Walker was at fault for the second Spurs goal, losing Lucas Moura in the City box, but he also pointed a finger of blame at the technology.

“Vary frustrating today. But both teams fought well,” he said on Twitter, with a deliberate typo. “Well done to Spurs. Always good to see the boys and fans.”

Ilkay Gundogan, meanwhile, agrees with Guardiola’s suggestion that rules involving VAR need to be amended for the good of the game.

“Today’s VAR decision is really hard to take,” the midfielder wrote on social media.

Today’s VAR decision is really hard to take. Any attacker that commits handball, intentional or not, is now ruled a free kick?? And if you’re defending it’s fine?? It only disadvantages the attacking team.
In my opinion this rule needs to be changed. #MCITOTpic.twitter.com/TtPsB96FD0

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